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Secular philosophy and the religious temperament : essays 2002-2008

"This volume collects recent essays and reviews by Thomas Nagel in three subject areas. The first section, including the title essay, is concerned with religious belief and some of the philosophical questions connected with it, such as the relation between religion and evolutionary theory, the question of why there is something rather than nothing, and the significance for human life of our place in the cosmos. It includes a defense of the relevance of religion to science education. The second section concerns the interpretation of liberal political theory, especially in an international context. A substantial essay argues that the principles of distributive justice that apply within individual nation-states do not apply to the world as a whole. The third section discusses the distinctive contributions of four philosophers to our understanding of what it is to be human - the form of human consciousness and the source of human values."--Jacket.Read more...

Secular philosophy and the religious temperament --
Dawkins and atheism --
Why is there anything? --
Nietzsche's self-creation --
Public education and intelligent design --
The problem of global justice --
The limits of international law --
Appiah's rooted cosmopolitanism --
Sandel and the paradox of liberalism --
MacKinnon on sexual domination --
Williams : the value of truth --
Williams : humanity and philosophy --
Wiggins on human solidarity --
O'Shaughnessy on the stream of consciousness --
Sartre : the look and the problem of other minds.

Abstract:

"This volume collects recent essays and reviews by Thomas Nagel in three subject areas. The first section, including the title essay, is concerned with religious belief and some of the philosophical questions connected with it, such as the relation between religion and evolutionary theory, the question of why there is something rather than nothing, and the significance for human life of our place in the cosmos. It includes a defense of the relevance of religion to science education. The second section concerns the interpretation of liberal political theory, especially in an international context. A substantial essay argues that the principles of distributive justice that apply within individual nation-states do not apply to the world as a whole. The third section discusses the distinctive contributions of four philosophers to our understanding of what it is to be human - the form of human consciousness and the source of human values."--Jacket.

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

These essays are all written in Nagel's clear and familiar style; they combine substantial arguments and insights with the charms of a friendly conversation partner. Highly recommended to those interested in theism versus atheism and the current science-religion debate. Religous Studies ReviewRead more...